SOLANA BEACH: Music, visitors flood Fletcher Cove

Fiesta del Sol makes 39th annual appearance

By DANIEL ELY - For the North County Times | Saturday, June 7, 2008 10:10 PM PDT ∞

SOLANA BEACH ---- Visitors, tents and music filled Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach on Saturday at the first day of the 39th annual Fiesta del Sol.

"We're here to promote beautiful Solana Beach," said Mark Tackabery, Fiesta del Sol committee chairman and Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce treasurer. "We always encourage local businesses and local artists to participate ... we get more and more people each year, and rave reviews."

The festival features music as the main draw, but also boasts carnival rides, artist booths, a beer garden, and an international food court with festival favorites such as kettle corn and funnel cake. This year's music, two days full of it, was provided by the Belly Up Tavern. The Romantics took center stage as the headlining band Saturday, with The English Beat to headline Sunday.

The stage was far from barren, with nearly nine hours of music planned each day running the gamut from garage rock and surf rock to reggae, and even including bands from area high schools ---- all appropriate for a family audience.

The variety extended even to the artists, mixing up the locals with creators like famous pop artist Nelson De La Nuez, whose works have sold to the likes of Jay Leno and Paris Hilton.

"We like this area," said De La Nuez, "we did this show last year and it worked out." Though he says that the festival atmosphere is a bit unusual, it's a great chance "to pick up a new audience."

"You have no clue how people are going to react," he said, "sometimes it's just about being in the right place with the right piece."

More than 50,000 visitors are expected at this year's festival over the two days for the art, the music, or just because they're in the neighborhood.

"The best thing is that it gets the community out so we can see each other," said Lila Scarlato, an annual visitor to the festival, who attended with her husband, Gerard, and their 3-year-old daughter Amelia.

"Plus the sun's out, which is rare. Usually it's 'Fiesta del Cold,' " added Gerard, waiting for Amelia return from a llama ride (one of the festival's more eye-catching features).

"If there's a good band, and it's before 8, we'll come back for it," she said, "but it wouldn't be worth getting a babysitter for."

Fiesta del Sol continues from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday. Buses to the festival are available every 30 minutes, starting at 11 a.m. More information, including the band lineup and shuttle bus pickup locations can be found at http://sbfiestadelsol.net.